Philip Rea, 2nd Baron Rea

Philip Russell Rea, 2nd Baron Rea, PC (7 February 1900 – 22 April 1981) was a British hereditary peer, Liberal politician and merchant banker.

The Right Honourable The Lord Rea PC
Philip Rea
Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Lords
In office 1955–1967
Preceded by	The Viscount Samuel
Succeeded by	The Lord Byers
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 26 May 1948 – 22 April 1981 Hereditary Peerage
Preceded by	The 1st Lord Rea
Succeeded by	The 3rd Lord Rea
Personal details
Born	Philip Russell Rea 7 February 1900
Died	22 April 1981(1981-04-22) (aged 81)
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Lorna Smith ​ ​ (m. 1922; died 1978)​
Children	2
Education	Westminster School
Alma mater	Oxford University University of Grenoble

The eldest son of Walter Rea, a Liberal politician, and his first wife, Evelyn, Rea was educated at Westminster School, and then at Christ Church, Oxford University, where he graduated BA and later MA, and lastly at the University of Grenoble.

In 1918, during the closing stages of the First World War, he served as a second lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards. During the Second World War he returned to the British Army and served as personal staff officer to Brigadier Colin Gubbins, Head of the Special Operations Executive, a key British intelligence and guerrilla operations agency. He was an officer of the King's Royal Rifle Corps.

Lord Rea served as Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Lords from 1955 to 1967. In the Lords he had been Chief Liberal Whip from 1950 to 1955, a Deputy Speaker from 1954, and Deputy Chairman of Committees 1950 to 1955. He was president of the Liberal Party between 1955 and 1956, and a party vice-president from 1970. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1962.

Rea married Lorna Smith (died 11 December 1978) on 7 April 1922. They had a son and daughter, but as his son Piers Russell Rea (1925–1934) died young, he was succeeded by Nicolas Rea, the son of his younger brother James Russell Rea (1902–1954).

His daughter, the Hon. Ann Felicity Rea (born 1923) served in the WRNS in the Second World War and married SOE veteran Malcolm Munthe in 1945.

Coat of arms of Philip Rea, 2nd Baron Rea

Crest A stag at gaze Gules resting the dexter fore-leg on an anchor Or. Escutcheon Or on a fess wavy Azure between three stags courant Gules a lymphad sails furled of the field. Supporters On either side a stag Gules each charged on the shoulder with a bezant thereon an anchor Azure. Motto In Omnia Promptus

References

• Burke's Peerage and Baronetage (105th edition, 1970)

External links

• Portraits of Philip Rea at the National Portrait Gallery, London